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Amaziah’s Demise

14 In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah became king. He was 25 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 29 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. Now he did what was right in the eyes of Adonai, yet not like his father David—he did like all his father Joash had done. Still, the high places were not taken away. The people were still sacrificing and burning incense in the high places.

Once the kingdom was established in his hand, he killed his courtiers who had assassinated his father the king. However, he did not execute the children of the assassins, keeping what is written in the Torah of Moses, where Adonai commanded saying, “The fathers will not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but each one will be put to death for his own sin.”

He struck down 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt, captured Sela in the battle, and renamed it Joktheel, as it is to this day.

Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come! Let’s meet face to face.”

But King Jehoash of Israel sent word to King Amaziah of Judah, saying, “The briar in Lebanon sent word to the cedar in Lebanon saying: ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ But a wild beast in Lebanon passed by and trampled down the briar. 10 You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart has become arrogant. Glory and stay at home! Why should you provoke trouble and cause your own downfall—you and Judah with you?”

11 But Amaziah would not listen. So King Jehoash of Israel advanced, and he and Amaziah king of Judah confronted each other at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah. 12 Judah was routed before Israel—they fled every man to his home. 13 King Jehoash of Israel captured King Amaziah of Judah, son of Jehoash son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then Jehoash advanced to Jerusalem and breached the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate—400 cubits. 14 He also took all the gold and silver and all the articles that were found in the House of Adonai and in the treasuries of the royal palace, as well as hostages, and returned to Samaria.

15 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 16 Then Jehoash slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. Then his son Jeroboam became king in his place.

17 And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel. 18 Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 19 They conspired against him in Jerusalem, so he fled to Lachish, but they sent men after him to Lachish and assassinated him there. 20 Then they brought his body back on horses, and he was buried in Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.

21 And all the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and proclaimed him king in place of his father Amaziah. 22 It was he who rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah after the previous king slept with his fathers.

23 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, and he reigned 41 years. 24 But he did what was evil in Adonai’s eyes. He did not turn away from all the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused Israel to commit. 25 It was he who restored Israel’s border from the entrance of Hamath to the sea of the Arabah, as was the word of Adonai, God of Israel, which He spoke by the hand of His servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath-hepher.

26 For Adonai saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter and spared no one—whether bond or free—nor was there a helper for Israel. 27 But Adonai did not say He would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, so He delivered them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Joash. 28 Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam and all that he did, and his might, including how he fought and recovered Damascus and Hamath for Judah in Israel, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 29 Then Jeroboam slept with his fathers with the kings of Israel. His son Zechariah became king in his place.